Robot cleaner and method for controlling the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaners face inefficiencies in cleaning operations due to the lack of controlled extension and retraction of auxiliary cleaning tools, which are not synchronized with the travel pattern, leading to incomplete cleaning around obstacles and walls.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of extendable and retractable auxiliary cleaning units on a robot cleaner, controlled by a sensing unit and a control unit that adjusts the operation based on obstacle and dust presence, allowing for adaptive cleaning modes and speeds to optimize cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If auxiliary cleaning tools are mounted to sweep dust into the cleaner body, then cleaning coverage is improved, but cleaning efficiency deteriorates because the operation is not synchronized with the travel pattern
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary cleaning units are designed to be dynamically extendable and retractable based on the robot cleaner's travel pattern. When traveling along walls or peripheries, the auxiliary cleaning units extend to maximize cleaning coverage of hard-to-reach areas. When traveling in open spaces, they retract to minimize energy consumption and avoid unnecessary operation, thereby improving overall cleaning efficiency while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
2Area of stationary object
If the robot cleaner travels along the periphery in wall tracing manner, then cleaning of hard-to-reach areas is improved, but cleaning speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robot cleaner dynamically adjusts its travel speed based on its position and the operational state of auxiliary cleaning units. When auxiliary cleaning units are extended along walls, the robot travels at a reduced speed to ensure thorough cleaning of peripheral areas. When moving between peripheral zones or in open spaces where auxiliary units are retracted, the robot increases its travel speed, thereby maintaining overall cleaning efficiency while ensuring adequate coverage of hard-to-reach areas.
3Reliability
If auxiliary cleaning units are extended to clean around obstacles, then cleaning completeness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary cleaning units are dynamically controlled to extend only when and where needed based on the robot cleaner's travel pattern and obstacle detection. During wall tracing operations or when approaching obstacles that require peripheral cleaning, the auxiliary units extend to ensure complete cleaning coverage. During open space traversal or when obstacles do not require auxiliary cleaning, the units retract to minimize energy consumption, thereby achieving cleaning completeness only where necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies auxiliary cleaning functionality selectively to specific locations rather than continuously. By extending auxiliary cleaning units only in local areas where obstacles or wall configurations require additional cleaning capability, the system achieves thorough cleaning completeness in critical zones while avoiding unnecessary energy expenditure in areas where the main brush suffices.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a robot cleaner and a method for controlling the same, capable of controlling a travelling or cleaning pattern of a robot cleaner in accordance with extension and retraction operations of an auxiliary cleaning tool to perform an efficient cleaning operation. The robot cleaner includes a plurality of auxiliary cleaning units mounted to a bottom of the robot cleaner such that the auxiliary cleaning units are extendable and retractable, and a control unit to extend the auxiliary cleaning units while travelling in a wall tracing manner along the periphery of the cleaning region and/or when an obstacle is sensed, and to retract the auxiliary cleaning units while the robot cleaner travels in an inner portion of the cleaning region when traveling of the periphery of the cleaning region is finished.